BROM BONES for 10-part brass choir by Howard J. Buss musically depicts the character and exploits of Washington Irving’s dashing prankster in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The musical ensemble consists of 4 Bb trumpets (an optional Eb part is included for trumpet 1), one French horn, 3 tenor trombones, one bass trombone, and tuba. This entertaining composition is cast in 5 movements, the first two are interconnected:
I. Overture (2:00)
II. The Smoke Out (2.40)
III. The Schoolhouse Caper (2:00)
IV. Ichabod’s Romance (3:40)
V. Night Encounter (3:10)
Following the energetic and heroic Overture, in The Smoke Out tone clusters represent the buildup of smoke in Ichabod’s singing school. Chorale-like passages suggest the music of the singers in training. The movement ends in transition, as Brom Bones and his small band of pranksters gallop off to their next adventure. The third movement, The Schoolhouse Caper, combines very aggressive and topsy-turvy passages with humorous, plodding interjections. Ichabod’s Romance begins as a beautiful unaccompanied ballad which is abruptly disturbed by a cacophony of muted brass, suggesting the whining of Brom’s mocking dog. Beautiful hymn-like sections serve as the backdrop to heartfelt solo passages, which are again disturbed by Brom’s annoying dog. The movement ends as it began, with the beautiful solo. The intense final movement, Night Encounter, depicts Ichabod’s frightening and fateful run-in with the Headless Horseman, suspected by some to be Brom Bones in disguise. (14’30”) Grade V. B405BC $58.50Sound samples: Excerpt 1 (the opening).mp3; Excerpt 2.mp3; Excerpt 3.mp3; Excerpt 4.mp3

CASCADES for brass
quintet (2-1-1-1) by Roger C. Vogel. Musical “cascades” rush forth from one another throughout in this exciting new work. Cascades is divided into 3 main sections. A fast energetic opening eventually gives way to a slower section before the opening mood returns in increasing intensity to the rousing conclusion. This accessible composition makes an outstanding contest piece, feature number, or because of its character, a dashing encore. (4’) Grade IV-V. Sound sample: Excerpt.mp3

CHROMATIC FANTASY (1997) for brass
quintet (2-1-1-1) by Howard
J. Buss was composed for the United States Air Force Brass Quintet.
This exciting and engagingtour de force is a riveting excursion
through driving ostinati and sparkling chromatic flourishes. Chromatic
Fantasy was premiered by the U.S.A.F. Brass Quintet at the Eastern
Trombone Workshop hosted by the U.S. Army Band in Ft. Meyer, VA. (8) Grade
V-VI. Sound Samples: Excerpt
1 (the opening).mp3;Excerpt 2.mp3

CONCORD (1990) for
brass quintet (2-1-1-1) by Howard
J. Buss teems with the vitality of youth. Lyrical passages are juxtaposed
with fanfare-like sections to create a dramatic and festive atmosphere.
Written for the opening of a performing arts high school in Florida, this
exciting composition was winner of the 1991 Erik Satie Award
of New York City. This makes a
great contest piece or rousing feature number. (6) Grade V. Sound Samples: Sample 1.mp3; Sample
2.mp3; Sample 3.mp3

SONIC FABLES: Lessons from Aesop (1991) for brass quintet (2-1-1-1) and one percussionby Howard J. Buss. Entertaining musical
representations of 6 of Aesops famous fables are presented between
a Prelude and Postlude. The text of the fables is printed
on a preliminary page to the score and may be used as written program
notes. Each fable may also by recited by a member of the ensemble or a
narrator prior to performing the accompanying movement. Because of the
programmatic subject matter and the colorful spirit of the music, Sonic
Fables works well with all types of audiences, including those
of children. It is frequently used as a feature number by professional
ensembles on school programs. Percussion: 2 suspended cymbals, temple blocks, snare drum, tomtom, triangle, tambourine,
wind chimes, xylophone, and tam-tam. The total
duration is about 17 minutes; however, the 8 movements may be performed
in smaller groupings if so desired by the performers. (18)
Grade V-VI. Sound Samples:Prelude.mp3 (excerpt with the beginning of narrator's lead-in to the first fable)The Hawk and the Nightingale.mp3 (excerpt) The Middle-Aged Man and His Two Mistresses.mp3 (excerpt) The Cat and the Rooster.mp3 (excerpt) The PipingFisherman.mp3 (excerpt, with the beginning of narrator's lead-in to the next movement) The Fox and the Leopard.mp3 (excerpt) The Lion and the Bear.mp3 (excerpt) Postlude.mp3 (excerpt)

or to order offline SONIC FABLES: Lessons from Aesop, brass quintet & one percussion,
B339 $36.00WARP! (1994) for brass quintet by Robert J. Frank. The title was inspired by the term from Star Trek where warp engines would bend time and space to propel the ship at incredible speeds. Exploring relationships between time and space in a musical sense, this work begins with motives and fragments free-floating in space. These gradually build in energy and motion until coming into phase with one another. After this cadence, a motor section expands and develops the previous free-floating motives over driving, repeated patterns. As the speed increases, these motives fade in and out of phase with each other until the motives come back into phase at "warp speed" in the exciting conclusion.Warp! is a fun and exciting concert feature!
(3') Grade V. Warp! sound sample: Excerpt.mp3 (966KB)
or to order offlineWARP! for brass quintet,
B716 $16.50